摘要
Detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has been enhanced by incorporating p24
antigen detection with current HIV antibody detection using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). However,
screening for HIV antibodies has increased through the use of rapid, lateral-flow HIV antibody detection
assays that currently do not have the capability to detect HIV p24 antigen. In this report, a lateral-flow
based assay using super-paramagnetic particles as the detection marker was developed for the detection
of HIV-1 p24 antigen. This magnetic immuno-chromatographic test (MICT) uses an inexpensive, lowmaintenance
instrument that detects the magnetic moment of the super-paramagnetic particles in a
magnetic field. MICT is simple to perform, provides a numerical output for easier determination of reactive
results and can be completed in 40 min. The lower limit of detection for HIV-1 p24 spiked into assay
sample buffer and 50% plasma was 30 pg/ml for both. Detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen at 50 pg/ml was
reproducible in both inter-run and intra-run assays with coefficients of variation of <13%. Furthermore,
the MICT p24 assay was able to detect intact virus spiked into 50% plasma (lower detection limit of
∼250,000 viral RNA copies/ml). MICT detection of increasing HIV-1 p24 levels in commercially available
seroconversion panels by MICT was only slightly later than that detected by much more complex EIAs.
MICT could provide a simple, low-cost, and portable method for rapid HIV-1 p24 detection in a variety of
testing environments.
Detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has been enhanced by incorporating p24
antigen detection with current HIV antibody detection using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). However,
screening for HIV antibodies has increased through the use of rapid, lateral-flow HIV antibody detection
assays that currently do not have the capability to detect HIV p24 antigen. In this report, a lateral-flow
based assay using super-paramagnetic particles as the detection marker was developed for the detection
of HIV-1 p24 antigen. This magnetic immuno-chromatographic test (MICT) uses an inexpensive, lowmaintenance
instrument that detects the magnetic moment of the super-paramagnetic particles in a
magnetic field. MICT is simple to perform, provides a numerical output for easier determination of reactive
results and can be completed in 40 min. The lower limit of detection for HIV-1 p24 spiked into assay
sample buffer and 50% plasma was 30 pg/ml for both. Detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen at 50 pg/ml was
reproducible in both inter-run and intra-run assays with coefficients of variation of <13%. Furthermore,
the MICT p24 assay was able to detect intact virus spiked into 50% plasma (lower detection limit of
∼250,000 viral RNA copies/ml). MICT detection of increasing HIV-1 p24 levels in commercially available
seroconversion panels by MICT was only slightly later than that detected by much more complex EIAs.
MICT could provide a simple, low-cost, and portable method for rapid HIV-1 p24 detection in a variety of
testing environments.
